This International Women’s Day, we’re shining a light on the females who are showing us that when it comes to your dreams, the sky really isn’t the limit – space is!

Yesterday, NASA announced that the first all-female spacewalk will take place later this month, 35 years after Svetlana Savitskaya became the first woman to carry out a spacewalk back in 1984.

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And the future of female space travel and research looks bright. Check out this testimony from Daisy Clark, who attended the ESA’s Space Health Week as part of the International Diploma & MSc in Extreme Medicine…

The ESA Space Health Week was such a fantastic opportunity to learn from an amazing group of people at the forefront of the space industry. We got to visit the DLR and European astronaut centre and learn about some of the research studies that are currently being undertaken.

The week was brilliant and was broken down into a great mix of lectures and hands-on practicals, plus discussions with a flight surgeon and an astronaut – how many people can say they have done that!?

We were lucky enough to see a live feed of the current astronauts in microgravity during our tour of the European astronaut centre and even heard some dialogue between the crew and ground teams. The week was truly amazing and was one of the many highlights of the Masters Programme.

Space calls! Join a world-class Aerospace Medicine Residency Program for an out-of-this-world introductory course in Aviation and Space medicine in Houston*

Apply now for the 2019 opportunity

*ONLY open to physicians students enrolled on our International Diploma and MSc program at the University of Exeter Medical School.

(Not enrolled on our Diploma and MSc program? Don’t fret – WEM and UTMB are collaborating to provide more opportunities for 2020, so keep your eyes peeled for more information).

A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join the University of Texas in Houston, Exeter University Medical School and World Extreme Medicine for a month of immersive learning with unparalleled access to Johnson Space Centre.

WEM has negotiated a limited number of places on the renown month-long ‘Principles of Space and Aviation Medicine’ course run by UTMB; a fantastic opportunity for anyone interested in the now GMC recognised speciality of Space Medicine

What more could you ask for? With unprecedented access to NASA’s Johnston Space Centre this opportunity enables a fully-immersed experience that will not only take you to Houston for a month but within the beating heart of space medicine; personally experience astronaut testing programmes, hypo- & hyperbaric chambers, in-flight countermeasures and the neutral buoyancy lab. Networking opportunities are included and will, of course, be out of this world.

The course is a month of intensive learning with several away days.

What we would expect of you: Mainly, to enjoy it! But we’d also need you to take notes and update us on the breakthroughs in space medicine (you’ll know before we do!). We’d also like you to take plenty of pictures, send some tweets and write a couple of reports on your return tagging both WEM and UEMS. If we’ve inspired you to pursue space medicine, then there’ll be plenty of opportunities with us in the coming years too.

Dates: From 24 June – 19 July. You are required to attend the full duration of the course.

Cost: The course costs $500 – $1500.

You will also have to add on accommodation for a month and flights to Houston but the PASM team will help you by introducing to other courses members so you can share accommodation, lifts etc

Clinical Posts in Emergency Medicine & International MSc in Extreme Medicine Doctor announced by Devon Hospital.

Combining a stunning Devon location with the chance to experience modules Polar Medicine in Norway, Mountain Medicine in Nepal, high fidelity CIV-MIL deployment with 201 Field Hospital, Human Factors, Future Medicine delivered by NASA Astronaut Mike Barratt and other modules.

‘To those that live in Devon, it’s probably no secret, but a survey in Country Life Magazine found that those living in the county simply enjoy a better quality of life than anywhere else in England’,

The Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital is looking to appoint to a unique post combining both a substantive post in Emergency Medicine and an opportunity to complete the new and exciting MSc in Extreme Medicine at the University of Exeter run in partnership with World Extreme Medicine.

Clinical Posts in Emergency Medicine & International MSc in Extreme Medicine Doctor announced by Devon Hospital.

Combining a stunning Devon location with the chance to experience modules Polar Medicine in Norway, Mountain Medicine in Nepal, high fidelity CIV-MIL deployment with 201 Field Hospital, Human Factors, Future Medicine delivered by NASA Astronaut Mike Barratt and other modules.

‘To those that live in Devon, it’s probably no secret, but a survey in Country Life Magazine found that those living in the county simply enjoy a better quality of life than anywhere else in England’,

The Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital is looking to appoint to a unique post combining both a substantive post in Emergency Medicine and an opportunity to complete the new and exciting MSc in Extreme Medicine at the University of Exeter run in partnership with World Extreme Medicine.

Surgeon Dr David Nott on stage

David will be joined by BBC Newsnight reporter John Sweeney, with whom he recently reported on conditions inside of Aleppo, and also, we hope, by barrister Toby Cadman, International law specialist in the field of war crimes, human rights, terrorism and extradition.

Surgeon Dr David Nott on stage

David will be joined by BBC Newsnight reporter John Sweeney, with whom he recently reported on conditions inside of Aleppo, and also, we hope, by barrister Toby Cadman, International law specialist in the field of war crimes, human rights, terrorism and extradition.

Kate Rubins, one of three astronauts aboard the International Space Station, has transmitted a message of support (https://vimeo.com/184097597) to the organisers of the World Extreme Medicine Conference and Expo (http://www.extrememedicineexpo.com/), which will be held at Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh on Friday 18 to Monday 21 November.

Taking time off from sequencing DNA 400km above the Earth’s surface, Kate Rubins reinforced the importance of extreme medicine:

“Here in Earth orbit we have a unique appreciation of the concepts of ‘extreme’ and ‘remote’, very applicable to the World Extreme Medicine Conference, especially provisioning and point-of-care diagnostics in similar remote environments as well as on a wider global scale.

“The concept of extreme medicine resonates with so many corners of human health, such as disaster and humanitarian medicine, prehospital care, wilderness medicine, and in isolated villages in the developing world.

“The breaking down of traditional silos between these disciplines is leading to more effective treatments and devices, and of course the sharing of knowledge and best practices on a wider stage.”

The attendees at the World Extreme Medicine Conference represent an eclectic mix of disciplines, united by one thing: they all specialise in medical practice conducted away from a usual clinical setting, typically in remote and sometimes dangerous locations.

Dr David Nott, an NHS surgeon who spends several months of each year working overseas for Médecins Sans Frontières and the International Federation of the Red Cross, will be speaking about his most recent work at a makeshift hospital in Aleppo, Syria, and previously, in other conflict zones.

Peter Skelton, a London-based physiotherapy and rehabilitation specialist who has worked in emergency teams in Ecuador, Nepal, Gaza, Iraq, the Philippines, Libya, Jordan and Haiti, will be speaking about the importance of Psychological First Aid training to responders in disaster situations.

Extreme, Expedition and Space Medicine

Speakers come from as far afield as Australia, such as John Cherry, a rural doctor working in Orange, New South Wales, around 150 miles west of Sydney. Dr Cherry has had an incredibly varied career and will be speaking about how he created the blueprint for preparing ESA astronauts for medical situations in space.

American MD Will Smith is travelling from Jackson, Wyoming, where he is the US National Parks Medical Director. He provides consultancy services to extreme medicine and rescue organisations across the world and will be sharing his experiences of practicing medicine in remote and austere locations.

Human Endurance and Sports Medicine

Speakers include the elite sports expert, Edinburgh-based DrAndrew Murray, who has worked for the Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth games. He is also an incredible athlete in his own right, having run 4,300 km from Scotland to the Sahara Desert and completed a husky trek in -40C in Outer Mongolia.

Pre-Hospital Medicine

Londoner Eoin Walker is a Pre-Hospital Mass Casualty Incident Management Paramedic with the London Air Ambulance, and will be discussing prehospital care alongside Zoe Hitchcock. In 2013, Zoe suffered a cardiac arrest whilst shopping in Oxford Street, central London, and Eoin was the first on the scene and re-started her heart.

World Extreme MedicineFounder Mark Hannaford said, “In today’s world, more than ever before, the human race is determined to access remote areas, whether it be for science, exploration, business or a myriad of other reasons. People going into these areas need medical support, and the skillsets of the medical professionals required are very different to those needed in a traditional clinical environment.

“Likewise, there are conflicts and disasters happening in parts of the world where access to equipment and medicine is extremely difficult or impossible. Medical professionals in these conditions need to be able to work with very limited resources and frequently overcome new challenges.

“The area of extreme medicine is in growth, and our message is that it’s a great alternative to a traditional clinical career. My belief is that there’s never been a more exciting time to work in medicine, and the fascinating speakers at the World Extreme Medicine Conference will prove that point.”

Mark Hannaford concludes, “We are thrilled to be bringing 100 speakers to Edinburgh at a unique event attended by 800 doctors, nurses, paramedics, surgeons and medical students. New medical research findings will be shared, making the conference an unmissable and historic event.”

The World Extreme Medicine Conference and Expo will take place at Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh, EH8 8AS from 18 – 21 November 2016. Bringing together many of the world’s brightest medical minds, it will focus four core disciplines:

Disaster and humanitarian medicine

Extreme, expedition and space medicine

Human endurance and sports medicine

Prehospital medicine

The exposition’s mission is to break down barriers, build bridges and make connections within the extreme medicine community.

The term ‘Extreme Medicine’ was first coined by Mark Hannaford and Dr Sean Hudson as an umbrella term for these extra-clinical medical practices.

by Laura Piper

When a solar storm hits your space shuttle while you’re orbiting the earth through icy stars Dr Michael Barratt is the man you want on board.

An experienced Nasa flight surgeon, Michael was launched through the atmosphere to support two spacewalks for the final mission of SS Discovery and spent 199 days as the chief medical officer on the International Space Station.

He’s one of an elite team of medical professionals spearheading the practice of extreme medicine, from the jungles of South America to the frontline of war.

“I’m a space guy,” says Michael cheerfully. “My passion is the adapted physiology of people in space. What our bodies can do up there is really quite amazing.”

Back on base at Nasa in Houston, Texas, 57-year-old Michael is currently packing his bags on earth for his next mission though – to a unique conference about to be held in Scotland for the first time called World Extreme Medicine.

Joining him are some of the most dynamic medical practitioners in the world, including surgeons who have operated in the war zones of Sarajevo and Syria, remote first aiders who cope with sharks, polar bears and the ocean depths, along with trauma medics more used to glaciers and freezing mountain peaks.

“It began around a campfire in Namibia,” explains World Extreme Medicine founder Mark Hannaford.

“I was out there on an expedition and realised how useful it would be to have a course that could train doctors for working in difficult environments.”

Mark knew instinctively that communication would be key, building networks between doctors and adventurous souls that could lead to improved standards in remote, disaster and humanitarian medicine.

Out of it came a gathering in London, then Harvard University in Boston, of intrepid pioneers in medicine mixed with extreme explorers all with one common denominator – “It’s the remoteness,” says astronaut Michael Barratt.

“It’s people working out in places with limited resources and unique medical problems. In all of these places you have to approach each case with resourcefulness, technology and study and I think it’s an important aspect of this conference.

“Just because it’s remote and exotic doesn’t mean you can’t be academic about it.”

Zoologists studying the way geese can adjust their bodies to altitude change suddenly found themselves in front of the gleaming eyes of doctors working at high altitudes to save the lives of patients.

“For doctors, because they’re generally quite focused on their specialism, they’ve maybe never spoken to a zoologist,” explains Mark.

“There’s a whole word of this type of stuff and knowledge that can be shared.

“There might be some people in the audience of course who are wondering why we’re talking about frogs, but some people will think ‘that’s bloody brilliant! What can we learn from that?’

“There’s such a massive passion that comes out of it.”

A strong contingent of Scots will be at the event in Edinburgh, including doctor Andrew Murray who has worked for the Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games.

When not working in elite sport medicine, Edinburgh based Andrew has run 4,300km from Scotland to the Sahara desert, placed first in the North Pole Marathon, the Antarctic Ice Marathon and the Gobi Challenge and completed a husky trek in -40C in Outer Mongolia.

Following Major Tim Peake’s rerun to Earth we caught up with Dr Nathan Smith, whose interests focus on psychology in extreme conditions, to ask how we can benefit from understanding human factors in such challenging circumstances. Here’s what he had to say.

“Psychology plays a fundamental role in the process of human spaceflight. At all stages, from selection and preparation, to the mission itself, and the post-flight phase, psychology is embedded within the space experience. Selection committees consider factors such as personality and motivation in order to select-out candidates who are not deemed suitable for space missions. During the mission, the extent to which a person can withstand stressors, whether that be danger, monotony, and boredom, has implications for crew safety, health and performance. Equipping individuals with appropriate coping strategies and developing countermeasures to mitigate stress is an obvious priority area for the various space agencies. In the post-flight phase, the transition back to day-to-day life on Earth is expected to hold both benefits and challenges to space travellers, and as such is an important consideration for retaining a healthy and functional crew. Of course, space research is invariably multi-disciplinary and the importance of human factors should not be underestimated. Ensuring optimal human interaction with equipment, and providing comfort within the restricted habitat are pertinent to maintaining performance and psychological health during ever-lengthening missions. Indeed, there is a lot we can learn from psychological research in space and associated analogs. Understanding the type of person who is likely to adjust and function well in the challenging environment of space, may tell us more about the people who are likely to thrive in difficult Earthly environments. This could be people completing expeditions in the higher latitudes and the Greater Ranges, or those having to enter dangerous and dynamic situations in the name of medicine and humanitarian issues.”

Nathan is based at the School of Health at the University of Northampton and his research revolves around understanding the utility of analogue environments for the selection of personnel for operating in extreme conditions, specifically, with a focus on personality, stress, coping, and post-expedition adjustment (particularly on growth experiences). He’s recently completed a 48-day hyper-arid 4-man desert expedition as well as from a field study in Antarctica.

Expedition & Wilderness Medicine

To take advantage of the World Extreme Medicine Expo early bird offer use discount code WEMEEARLYBIRD30 at the checkout.

Response to the Paris attacks

The medical response to multisite terrorist attacks in Paris reviews the coordinated effort from the emergency services and Assistance
Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (APHP) .
The article offers the perspective of an Emergency Physician, Anaesthesiologist and a Trauma Surgeon, before offering a conclusion.

It’s clear no matter what the plan, it’s the people; doctors, nurses, emergency services, administrators, volunteers and many others, that enable a successful response.
View the FULL ARTICLE on the Lancet’s website.

Jobs and opportunities

The European Space Agency is once again looking for a doctor to join them for a year of research and experiments at the Concordia research station in Antarctica.
Click HERE to see the post on the ESA website.

Luangwa Safari Association Medical Fund need a doctor for 3-6 months to provide care for staff and guest in addition to providing care at Kakumbi Rural Health Centre.
Check out the full details HERE and to read a previous doctor’s blog written during her time in the role click HERE

Course pick

Mountain Medicine 2016 following another extremely successful course in Nepal trekking to Kala Patthar and Everest Base Camp.
The first piece of feedback we received told us “this was the most amazing trip I have been on” and it is comments like these we aim for and pride ourselves on.Pre-hospital Trauma Workshopswill continue throughout 2016. We focus on initial care around head injuries, chest injuries, traumatic cardiac arrest, blast and ballistic injuries. We’ll also touch on crew resource management and effective leadership on scene in the single and multi casualty scenarios.

“We treat athletes like NASA treats astronauts”.

Last month saw the launch of Vollebak, a new brand that aims to tackle the fundamental issues faced by extreme sports people.

Having lived through the highs and lows that come with racing and training in the world’s toughest environments, founders and adventure athletes Steve and Nick Tidball, started working on products and experiments to help athletes relax and survive.
Click HERE to find out more.

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